Display apparatus



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,217

R. M. CRAIG A DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1925 2 ASheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 1 Jan. s, 1929. 1,698,217

R. M. CRAIG DzsPLAY APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I f` J3 3 f i 1 4,9@ g-wgg 5f 4955/ W111i IH iii'ii IINHHIIIIN! Patented Jan. 8, 1929- RICHARD-M, CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

i DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Appnaiion inea August 19, 1925. sensi No. 51,206.

This invention relates to a novel method of and means for displaying advertising matter and the like. in a manner to attract and hold the attention of thc observer, the invent-iony being based on the principles of color absorption.andconstituting a carrying forward of the general principles disclosed in my co-l pending application filed August 14, 1925, Serial No. 50,330. In the said copending application, the matter to'be displayed is represented `in one or more pigment colorsupon a light or darli neutral background, as may be `found desirable, andthe. effect of animation or change in position or conditionof the matter represented is produced by successively.

displaying the surface bearing said matter under light vrays of diiferentspectral colors. I have discovered, however, that very pleasing effects may be obtained by using white light raysin connection with light rays of a single spectral color ,or utilizing white light rays in connection with spectial'light iays of different and contrasting colors.V Therefore,

the present invention.v has as its object to evolve means whereby matter displayed yin a single pigment color or contrasting pigment colors'may be displayed partly by the use of white light rays to produce the effect of animation and color change and display the ad-` vertising rmatter in a most attractive manner.

Another object of theinvention is to evolve a method whereby advertising mat-ter in other than complementary colors, may be dis played with substantially the same facility as under the method referred to in my said oo-pending application in which contrasting or complementary colors are employed in representing the matter to be displayed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is fa schematic view illustrating one application of the principles of the present invention, in which the matter to be displayed may be represented in contrasting pigment colors on alight neutral background and displayed under white light `rays 'and light rays of different spectral colors.

Figure 2is al similar view showingv another application of the principles of the invention in which the matter to be displayed is represented iii different contrasting pigment colors upon a dark background and displayed under white light rays and spectral light rays of different colors. 4 f y Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating anl other application of the y'principles of thev in# vention in which light anddark neutral baclrgrounds are resorted to and the matterto be displayed is represented in a single pigment colory and displayed under white light rays aiidspectral rays of different colors.

Figure t is a similar view illustrating an-l other application of the principle'sof lthe in-r vention in which white light rays and spectral rays of a single color are. employed in displaying the advertising orother matter which is represented ina singlepigment color upon a dark neutral background. l

In my aforesaid cofpending application, Serial Number 50,330, and in my co-fpending application filed December 29,k 1925, Serial Number 73,244, I have; first exemplified the display of matters to be represented, under change, and daylight display may be obtained, and, in the latter application, kI have exemplified the application of the general principles ofthe invention in a manner to' continuously display certain matterto the vision of the observer and display other inatter at intervals withthe effectk of animation orV change, utilizing, in the 'said latter instance, .t-lie principle of the'blending ofV light rays of Vcoinplei'nentary primary colors, to produce white' light. In the present' application, I will exemplify the employment of white light rays in combination with colored spectral rays to display matters represented in contrasting orcoinpleinentary colors.

In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, the numerall indicates in genera-l the. display surface, Ywhich may be a signboard or anyv other surface uponwhich advertising matter may be displayed, as well as matter intended for amusement, entertainment or instruction, and there is applied to this surface a coating of a light neutral pigment which provides a light neutral backgroundl indicated by the numeral 2, upon which the mat-ter to be displayed is represented in one or Vmore pigment colors. By neutral colors is meant colors those colors which Vdisplay no decided color` characteristics such as "are peculiar to primarycolors. It maybe stated at this pointthat A in the description which is to` follow, refer- `sented on theV display surface, and reference will also be made to spectral colors and byH this is meant colors of the spectrum as represented by colored light rays. There are a number of light colored pigments which may be employed in painting the background of tl'ie display surface illustrated in Figure 1 'of the drawings, such for example as White lead or zinc White, gray, sand, etc. In the specific example represented iniFigure 1, there will be painted or otherwise depicted, in red pigment, upon the background 2, a representation S of the female dressed in street costume emerging from a partly opened box, and this representation will be located at one side of the vertical middle of the display surface. At the other side of the vertical middle of the display surface, there Will be represented, in green pigment, advertising matter reading for example, Does spring opening, as indicated bythe numeral i. `Thismatter isintended, of course, to represent only iii a general manner one of the numberless arrange- Vao mentsv of advertising matters which may be Y resorted to in the carrying out of the principles of the invention, and it is Within the purview of the invention that other matters may be represented in red pigment and other matters in green pigment, the representations'lbeing alternated. Furthermore, the specific reference to red and green pigments does not mean that these colors alone may be einployed, inasmuch as any complementary or contrasting pigment colors maybe used Without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention, and, furthermore, the representations may be painted upon the surface of a signboard or any other surface, or' they may be lithographed or photographed. In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said figure, it is contemplated. that the display surface be illuminated successively by White light rays and light` rays of contrasting or complenientary colors, and While any source of illumination may beiemployed, it is preferable to arrange in proitiinity to the surface, and in position to illuminate the saine, a plurality of White electric light bulbs 5, red electric light bulbs 6, and green, bluegreen, or blue electric light bulbs 7, the white light bulbs being so arrangedthat either side of the display surface maybe illuminated by While light rays, and the red and green bulbs being so arranged Vthat one side of the display surface may be illuminated by red light rays and the other side by green light rays, the

specific arrangement being such that the red bulbs 6 will. be located in juxtaposition to that side ofthe display surface which bears the 4 reaziresentation 3, and the green bulbs 7 Will be located in proximity, to-that portion of the surface which bears the representation 4.

In order that the several bulbs may be properl successivel lighted asuitable flashino' mechanism is provided which is illustrated diagr'a-inmatica ly in `Figure 1 and indicated in general by the numeral 8. As an example of a mechanism which may be employed, there is represented a disc 9 of insulating material infwliich are embedded a number of contact strips 10 and 11, the strips being arcuate in forni and being disposed concentric to the axis of rotation of the disc 9 and staggered with relation to one another. The numeral 12 indicates the source of current supply and the numeral 13 a conductor wire y which is lead from one side of the source of supply to the shaft lil upon vwhich the disc 9 is mounted, branch Wires 15 and 16 being led from the strips 10 and 11respectively,`

the sockets into which thelight bulbs 5, 6

and 7 are fitted. A conductor Wire `21 is connected to the brush 17 and tliebranclies leading therefrom are connected to theother ter-l minals of the sockets for the White light bulbs 5 at the left `hand side of the display surface and the other terminals of the sockets for the green light bulbs 7 at the right hand side ofthe display surface; A conductor Wire 22 is led from the brush 18 and its branches are cuit will be closed through the white or clear electric lightliulbs 5 at the left hand side of the display surface and i simultaneously through the green light bulbs 7 at the right Vhand side of the display surface, With the jresult that the representation 8 uull be present-r ed to theview of the observerin brilliant red against a, substantially white background, Whereas the representation 1, which is green, vill be obliterated.` 0n the other hand, when,

inthe rotation of the dise 9, the succeeding i one of the contact strips 11 is brought into contact with the brush 18, the 'circuit will be closed through the red light bulbs (Swat the left hand side of the display` surface and through the white light bulbs 5 atthe right hand sidey of the said surface, so that the repi iesentationf,will be obliterated and the advertisin'g matter constituting Vthe' represenn tation i will be displayed to the view of the observer in green against a substantially `colored light ibulbs of different colors arranged at the opposite sides of the middle of the display surface, the representations are displayed in colors,so that in the present lmethod there is'present the factor of color display as well as that of animation or change in appearance of the matters to be displayed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, quite a different effect is obtained from that described in connection with the forni shown inIigure l, due to the employment of a different type of background; In this embodiment, the num-r eral 23 indicates in general the display surface to which-there is applied a neutral pigv ment of dark color to provide a dark neutral background indicated by the numeral 24, which background may be black, very dark gray, toba co brown, Indian red, or any of the other dark neutral colors. Upon this background, at one side of the vertical middle of the `display surface, there is painted or otherwise represented, in, for example, red, 'a representation 25 corresponding to the representation 3 previously described, and advertising matter constituting a representation 26, in green, is painted or otherwise depicted upon the background 24 at the right rhand side of the display surface. As statedinconnectionwith the illustration disclosed in Figure l, simple exampleshave been `taken in order 'to clearly representthe principles of the invention and-it will be understood that much more complicated and complex arrangements ofthe matters to be displayed may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Likewise, in these two figures and in the other figures of the drawings, the same representations are displayed in order to more clearly exemplify the different` effects which'may be produced by a judicious selection of backgrounds and pigment colors, as well as spectral colors. In Figure 2, sources of illumination inthe na'- ture of white light electric bulbs 27, blue light bulbs 28, and red light bulbs 29, employed, and the white light bulbs 27 are so arranged that either side of the display surface may be ilhiminated by white light rays, the blue light bulbs 28 being so arranged that that side of the display surface on which the representation 25 appears may be lighted in blue. The red light bulbs are so positioned as to illuminate the other side ofthe display surface, In this ligure, the source of current supply is indicated by the numeral 30 and the flasher,

which is indicated in general by the numeral 31, corresponds in everyrespectto the flashery 8in lhgure l of the drawings, a conductor wire 32 being led from one side of thesource of current'supply to' the shaftS- of the flash er disc 34 and by way of branch wires 35 and 3G to contact strips 37 and 38 respectively. Brushes 39 and 40 are provided in connection with the flasher disc and Vco ct respectively with the contact strips 37 and 38. A. conductor wire 4l leads from' the brush 39 and is con-,- nested electrically lwith vone terminal of the socket for eachV of the white light bulbs 27 at the left hand side of the display surface and with one terminal of the sockets for the red light bulbs 29 at the right'hand side of the said display surface, a conductor wire 42 being led from the brush 40 and being connect ed to one terminal of the sockets for the blue light bulbs 28 and to one terminal of the sockets for the whitelight bulbs 27 at the right hand side of the display surface. A conductor wire 43 leads from the other side of the source l of current supply and' is connectedto the other terminals of the sockets for the light bulbs 27, 2SV and 29. In this embodiment of the invention', when the white light bulbs at the left handfside of the display surface are lighted and the red bulbs at the right hand side of the display surface are simultaneously lighted, the red representation 25 will appear bright red against the dark neutral background and the representation 26 will be obliterated.` On "fthe other` hand, when theblue light bulbs 28 are lighted and illuminate the lefthand side of the displaysurface vand the white light bulbs 27 at the right hand side of the display surface are simultaneously illuminated, the representation 25 will be obliterated and thel representation 26 will appear bright green against the dark neutral background 24. Y,

lFigure 3 of the drawings illustrates 2anot-her application of the principles of theinvention and in this figure the numeral 44 indicates in generaly the display surface, one half of which has applied to it a dark neutral pigment to provide a dark neutral background 45 which may, for example, be brown Y in color. A light neutral pigment is Vapplied to the other half of the display surface and provides alight neutral background indiv catedy by the numeral 46. Upon thebackground`45 there is painted or otherwise dei picted, in red, the representation 47 corre-` Vlight,bulbs 5l are respectively Varranged in juxtaposition tothe displaysurfaceso that tation 48 may beilluminated byred light rays. l

The numeral 52 indicates a source of current supply and `the numeral 5,3 indicates in general a flasher identical With that described in connection With Figures 1 and Qand arranged to control the supply of currentrto the light bulbs 49, 50 and 51, the circuit being identical With the circuit disclosed in Figures 1 andQ, and being so arranged that at one moment the white light bulbs 49 at the left hand side of the display surface Will be lighted and simultaneously thercd light bulbs 51 at thel other side of the said surface will be illuminated, and at the next moment, the blue light bulbs 5() and the White light bulbs 49 at the right hand side of the display surface will be simultaneously illuminated. Vhcn the White light bulbs 49 at the left hand side of the display surface are illuminated and simultaneously the red light. bulbs 51 at the right hand side of the said surface are illuminated, the representation 47 Will appear bright red against a dark background and the representation 48 will be obliterated. On the other hand, when the blue light bulbs 50 4 are lighted and the White light bulbs 49 at theV right hand side of the display surface are simultaneously lighted,the represent-ation 47 Willbc obliterated and the representation 48 will appear red against a White background.

In the embodiment of the invention illustratedin Figure 4 of the drawings, the display surface is indicated in general by the p numeral 54 and a dark neutral pigment, as

for example brown, is applied to the surface Vto provide a dark neutral background 55.

Upon this surface, at oneside of the vertical middle thereof, there ispainted or otherwise represented in red, a representation"56 which corresponds to the representations 3, 25, and 47,- previously referred to, and, atthe oppositeside of the background there is painted or otherwise depicted, in red, a representation 57 corresponding to the representation 48.

' This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 3 in that the entire display surface is provided with a dark neutral Y background instead of with a combination of dark and light neutral backgrounds. The

y display surface 54 is to be illuminated by White light bulbs 58 and by blue light bulbs 59, and the supply of current from the source of supply 60, to the said bulbs, selectively controlled through :the medium of a flasher indicated in general by .the numeral G1 and identical with the flashers 8, 3l and 53 previously described.` Identically the same circuit is employed in this instance as in the preceding instances and, as a consequence, when the white light bulbs 58 at the left hand side of the display surface are lighted, the blue light bulbs 59 at the right hand side of the display surface will be simultaneously lighted and, y

on the other hand, Vwhen the blue light bulbs at the left hand side of the display surface are lighted, the White light bulbs at the right hand side of the display surface will be simulf taneously lighted. Therefore, When the White lightbulbs 5S at the left hand side of the display surface are lighted and the blue light bulbs 59 at the right hand side are simultaneously lighted, the representation 56 will appear bright red against a dark background but the representation 57 will vbe obliterated and, conversely, when the blue light bulbs 59 at the left hand side of the display surface are lighted and the white light bulbs 58 at the right hand side are l ightcd simultaneously therewith, the representation 56 will be obliberatcd and the representation 57 will appear red against a dark background.

It Will be understood, as previously stated,

that more complex arrangements may be derV tion illustrated and described, the principles have been adapted primarily to advertising displays, but it will be evident that this disclosure is not to be construed as in any way limiting the invention inasmuch as the pr1inciples thereof may be employed in` color displays for any purpose Whatsoever,=suc h for example as sceniceffects, amusement displays, cabarets,rwalls, educational displays, etc., and, therefore, Where reference is made to a display surface this term is tobe considered as descriptive of any surface having the general characteristics forth herein and displayed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. Display apparatus comprising adisplay i lou 2. Display apparatus comprising a display background in the presence of White light surface having a neutral surface background rays. and light rays of contrasting spectral bearing upon different distinct portions colors substantially complementary to the re- 10 thereof, different matters t0 be displayed, spec-tive pigment colors in Which the matters 5 represented in contrasting` pigment colors, are represented. y

and means for simultaneously, alternately, In testimony whereof I aliix my signature. and successively displaying said surface RICHARD M. CRAIG. [Ls] 

